Sentimental today, I guess

As I was figuring out how to put photos on here, I looked at my header photos of my 3 kids, and wondered "how in the world did they grow so fast?" I look at Allie and she's becoming a young woman. Austin is only 7, but in so many ways I am already seeing the promise of the young man he will become. He's changed so much this year. And what about my "baby"? She's turning 3 next week. How did it all go so fast?

I love how different they are. How 3 little people, from the same gene pool, can be such different souls. It amazes me. Allie and Austin are like oil and water. She is SO competitive, while Austin is happy to do things his best, but in his own time. Allie is impulsive, Austin is a planner. Allie tends to be happy go lucky, while Austin, although a happy guy, likes his stuff a little more laid out and organized. The things Allie is shy about, Austin is all out there. And vice-versa. And then we have Gabrielle....what can we say about that little one? She is a wild child. Loves life in general, but is my most shy so far. She's an all or nothing type kid, as long as no one she doesn't want around is watching her. I used to say she had no fear, but that seems to be changing a bit as she grows a little older. Thank goodness, as I don't know how much more gray hair I could've taken from the fearlessness. She's still fearless I guess, but now she is developing common sense, as she knows that she needs to not drink Windex just because she figured out how to break open the locked cabinet for example.

I have to remind myself each morning now to remember something about each day with them, because they are growing into such amazing people, but they are doing it way to fast for this mommy's liking. And no matter how tired I am, I will not turn down one request to tuck them in to bed at night, because one day they might be too old to want that goodnight kiss and it will break my heart.

Let's get this thing going!!!!

First blog post...hmmm...I have no idea what I'm doing.

Today is a gorgeous day! I am so ready to get outside and photograph again. I really need to take some portraits of Allison but of course she has softball stuff tonight. Hopefully tomorrow will be beautiful again. I found a neat spot I want to take her. Oddly enough, it's at a nearby soccer field park, and the concession buildings look like stone and wood barns, and are landscaped so pretty, with big boulders and lots of natural grasses and plants. She skipped her school photos and asked that I take those, and we need to do a Valentine's Day shoot for her cards. I swear the only time my girl is available is when it's rainy and icky outside!

Gabrielle is busy painting, which she never does because I'm such a chicken. If you know Gabrielle, you know it's because she always does the most creative things that causes huge messes that no one else but that child could have imagined. Like cutting her hair last week while I was sitting at the table with her. So far she has only painted the paper, and wiped her eyes with her hands causing what looks like a nice shiner on her cheekbone so we are good! I cannot believe my "baby" is going to be 3 next week. How on earth did that happen?

Austin has turned into a master artist lately. This kid has a natural ability and I'm watching it unfold all of a sudden. He is starting to see perspective and be able to draw it a bit, and I spent a few minutes showing him how to see shadows and try to draw them. He will be enrolled in some art classes once I can find a good place. What a great outlet that could be for him someday.